James W. Bradbury
Encyclopedia
James Ware Bradbury was a United States Senator from Maine.
Born in Parsonsfield, Maine
, he attended the common schools and Gorham Academy
. After graduating from Bowdoin College
in 1825, he became principal of Hallowell Academy and founder of the first normal school
in New England
, at Effingham, New Hampshire
, in 1829.
He then studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Augusta, Maine
, in 1830. There he was for a time editor of the Maine Patriot, and was prosecuting attorney for the county from 1834 until 1838. He was a member of the Baltimore convention of 1844, which nominated James K. Polk
for the presidency.
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate
and served from March 4, 1847, until March 3, 1853, when he declined to be a candidate for reelection (returning, at the close of his term, to the practice of his profession). While in the Senate he chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Printing and the U.S. Senate Committee on Retrenchment. He was chairman of a select committee on French spoilations.
He served as a trustee of Bowdoin College
in 1861 and was corresponding secretary of the Maine Historical Society and then president of that body from 1867 to 1887.
Born in Parsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield...
, he attended the common schools and Gorham Academy
Gorham Academy
Gorham Academy. In 1803, Gorham Academy was founded in Gorham, Maine as a preparatory school for boys. Designed by Samuel Elder, the Federal style Academy Building was erected in 1806. The institution would evolve into Western Maine Normal School, and later Gorham State Teachers College. Today, it...
. After graduating from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1825, he became principal of Hallowell Academy and founder of the first normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, at Effingham, New Hampshire
Effingham, New Hampshire
Effingham is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,465. Effingham includes the villages of Effingham Falls, Effingham , Center Effingham , and South Effingham...
, in 1829.
He then studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Augusta, Maine
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, in 1830. There he was for a time editor of the Maine Patriot, and was prosecuting attorney for the county from 1834 until 1838. He was a member of the Baltimore convention of 1844, which nominated James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
for the presidency.
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and served from March 4, 1847, until March 3, 1853, when he declined to be a candidate for reelection (returning, at the close of his term, to the practice of his profession). While in the Senate he chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Printing and the U.S. Senate Committee on Retrenchment. He was chairman of a select committee on French spoilations.
He served as a trustee of Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1861 and was corresponding secretary of the Maine Historical Society and then president of that body from 1867 to 1887.